MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION AND PRESS

INFORMATION for the Means of Mass Media on assignments of the President of Russia to the Government of the Russian Federation in relation with Abkhazia and South Ossetia

President of Russia, V.V. Putin gave assignment to the Government of the Russian Federation regarding regulation of relations of Russia with Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The assignments are directed towards realization of the declared course of the Russian leadership to demonstrate, in accordance with the norms of the International Law, substantial assistance to the population of the two republics, to the Russian citizens, residing there, also taking into account the earlier withdrawal of Russia from the decision of the CIS of 1996, restricting ties with Abkhazia on state level, as well as recommendations, expressed by the State Duma.

Implementation of the President’s assignments will enable creation of mechanisms of the comprehensive protection of rights, freedoms and lawful interests of the Russian citizens, residing in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Government of the Russian Federation has been assigned, for this goal to cooperate with de facto bodies of authority of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, including organization of cooperation in the trade, economic, social, scientific-technical domains, in the sphere of information, culture and education, also attracting the regions of Russia.

There is established the list of the documents, recognized in the Russian Federation, issued to the physical persons by the de facto bodies of authority of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. There is recognized the legal entity status of the legal entities, registered in compliance with the legislation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which is defined as private law of such legal entities.

The federal bodies of the executive power have been assigned to carry out cooperation with Abkhazia and South Ossetia in the frame of legal assistance on civil, domestic and criminal cases. The territorial bodies of the Ministry of Interior of Russia in the Krasnodar region and in the Republic of Northern Ossetia-Alania, shall, in case of necessity, carry out the specific consular functions, in the interests of the persons, permanently residing in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

There has been stipulated the preparation of additional proposals on several specific directions of the further cooperation with Abkhazia and South Ossetia in the interests of the socio-economic development of these republics; protection of rights of the residing population including the Russian citizens.

The main motive of our actions in this direction is caring about the interests of the population of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, including the Russian citizens, residing there.

During the years of the protracted conflicts, inhabitants of these non-recognized republics found themselves in grave situation. They in fact were devoid of possibility to realize the universal right to life in dignity and sustainable development. Their situation is aggravated by the actions of Tbilisi, which ignores possibilities of existing mechanisms for establishment of normal economic relations, solving the social problems in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The leadership of Georgia refuses to conclude with Sukhumi and Tskhinvali of binding documents on non-application of force and non-resumption of hostilities, increases on various channels own offensive armaments and demonstrates aggressive intentions, namely, in the upper part of Kodori Gorge, violating the resolutions of the Security Council of the UNO. “The new peace initiatives”, expressed by the Georgian leadership against such background, cannot be taken into account seriously.

Our decision, to go to more substantial, practical assistance to the population of the unrecognized republics, does not contradict with the disposition of the International Community. In this regard, it is worth noting that in the resolution 1808 of the Security Council of the UNO, adopted on April 15 of the current year (on prolongation of the UNOMIG’s mandate), there is a direct indication to the immediate necessity of Abkhazia’s economic development, improvement of the life conditions of the population, which suffered from the conflict.

Our actions, regarding Abkhazia and south Ossetia, do not mean that Russia makes its choice in favor of confrontation with Georgia. We are for the removal of all sanctions and restrictions, impeding socio-economic development of the region. This is confirmed by the restoration of air and marine communication with Georgia, other steps, which represent the positive alternative to the course of the current Georgian leadership.

Realization of all the indicated measures will facilitate the strengthening of security and stability in the region of Caucasus.

April 16, 2008

(www.duma.ru)